Scientists at the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other research institutions have developed a polymer that reduces the interfacial resistance of solid-state batteries, thereby advancing the development of this promising battery technology.
Solid-state batteries are expected to offer several advantages over conventional lithium-ion batteries, particularly in terms of safety, energy density and service life. However, they are not yet ready for the market. Scientists at the IMR have now taken a decisive step forward: they have developed a new polymer electrode electrolyte material for solid-state lithium batteries.
This new polymer is designed to reduce the interfacial resistance between the electrode and the electrolyte and increase the previously low efficiency of ion transport. The polymer has a dual function: it not only conducts lithium ions, but can also store energy itself. As a result, the electrolyte and electrode partially fuse together, and the central problem of conventional solid-state batteries, the unstable interface, is drastically reduced.
The researchers report an energy density of around 585.9 Wh/kg at the electrode level – a value that is significantly higher than conventional lithium-ion materials. In practice, depending on the cell structure, this could enable energy densities of over 600 Wh/kg. In addition, the cells based on this technology exhibit high conductivity and stable charging cycles. They can also withstand heavy mechanical stress, as demonstrated by a test involving 20,000 bending cycles. They are suitable for use in mobile devices.
As Notebookcheck reports, other approaches, such as ceramic electrolytes, offer high stability but are often brittle and difficult to integrate. The ion-conducting polymer developed by the Chinese research team, on the other hand, is said to combine flexibility, energy efficiency and integration at the molecular level, making it particularly interesting for the next generation of electric vehicles and mobile devices.
wiley.com, carnewschina.com
